The fascination of Maths thread

[NotAllThere]

Surely all or some numbers are neither interesting or uninteresting, depending on the opinion of the valuer and their knowlege of numbers and what they represent in relation to other numbers? The word 'interesting' is a value judgement not a fact, so there is nothing intrinsically remarkable or unremarkable about any number up to 37 or indeed beyond irrespective of what they represent mathematically.

Also, even if we were to accept that the number 38 was interesting, because it was the first dull number after 1-37 in the opionion of the valuer above, or for another reason. In relation to what? Just other numbers or in relation to something else?

If compared to, say, number 37, in the abstract, then it is probably no more or less interesting than 37 as I've already mentioned. But if the number 38 was the last number on your lotto ticket securing you the jackpot, even if number 37 was also one of the numbers you needed but not the bonus ball number, therefore rendering your ticket worthless up to that point, then the addition of 38 would be the most interesting number in the world, simply for what it signifies to secure you the big win. The same goes for 37, if that had been the bonus ball number instead.

The point I'm making overall is that intrinsic mathematical properties does not make a number interesting to everyone. So it's pointless stating it as fact. Also, whether a number is interesting can sometimes be based on non mathematical criteria.

Sorry. I found that discussion totally uninteresting.

( I'm so sharp one day I'll cut myself ).

[AtW]

*yawns*

You all are geeks. Get a life!

[NotAllThere]

But you're AtW.

[Denny]

Sorry. I found that discussion totally uninteresting.

( I'm so sharp one day I'll cut myself ).

Then I'm well on my way to 'geekhood' then, aren't I.

[NotAllThere]

You've certainly got potential! Though I think it's nerddom?

The problem is, in between the time spent socialising in pubs, at friends' houses, and on the piste; at theatre, opera and greyhound racing; family time and "wife time" ; advanced mathematics and theoretical physics, and occasionally doing some work to finance it all, I've not much time left for a life.

( now, where's that "smug git" icon? )

[BrilloPad]

Then I'm well on my way to 'geekhood' then, aren't I.

you want the DEnny Geek of The week award?

[Churchill]

Then I'm well on my way to 'geekhood' then, aren't I.

Nope, you're a female.(we think)

[BrilloPad]

In a bus there are 7 girls. Each girl has 7 bags. Each bag has 7 big cats. Each big cat has 7 small cats. All the cats have 4 legs. How many legs in the bus?

[Denny]

In a bus there are 7 girls. Each girl has 7 bags. Each bag has 7 big cats. Each big cat has 7 small cats. All the cats have 4 legs. How many legs in the bus?

The answer we are to assume is:

7 girls = 14 legs
7 big cats = 28 legs
7 small cats x 7 big cats = 49 cats with 4 legs = 196

The answer is : 238 legs

Except it isn't. There is no mention whether the 7 girls have 2 legs. Some may be amputees. Also there is no mention of whether the bags contain the small cats, only the big cats. The question explicitely states that the answer is the number of legs on the bus, not the assumed number of legs of all living creatures mentioned.

So the answer is impossible to work out without the full facts.



I deserve to be geek of the week.

[BrilloPad]

The answer we are to assume is:

7 girls = 14 legs
7 big cats = 28 legs
7 small cats x 7 big cats = 49 cats with 4 legs = 196

The answer is : 238 legs

Except it isn't. There is no mention whether the 7 girls have 2 legs. Some may be amputees. Also there is no mention of whether the bags contain the small cats, only the big cats. The question explicitely states that the answer is the number of legs on the bus, not the assumed number of legs of all living creatures mentioned.

So the answer is impossible to work out without the full facts.



I deserve to be geek of the week.

girls have 2 legs each. it is just all living creatures mentioned.

In a bus there are 7 girls. Each girl has 7 bags. Each bag has 7 big cats. Each big cat has 7 small cats. All the cats have 4 legs. How many legs in the bus?

but there are 7*7*7 big cats. care to revise your answer?

don't worry - me and sasguru will rise you to new levels of geekdom!